Alarm for railroad-crossings.



B. D. WHITCOMB.

ALARM FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. [9].).

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- B. D. WHITCOMB.

ALARM FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1915- Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

BEECI-IER D. WHITCOMB, OF SHAWOM'ET, RHODE ISLAND.

ALARM non RAILROAD-CBOSSINGS.

Application filed July 26, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnnormn D. WVHIT- come, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shawomet, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alarms for Railroad-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in alarms for railroad crossings, and the primary object of themvention is to provide an alarm of-improved and simplified construction, involving minimum of parts in its structure.

A further o'bject'of the invention is to provide novel means for controlling the return of the core to normal position following closing of the track circuit, and to also provide a novel form of circuit control for causing the bell to stop ringing following actuation of the latter.

In the drawings Figur-e l is a side elevation of the invention showing the parts in alarm sounding position, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tive position.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention a solenoid 1 is employed having a reciprocal core 2 therein, the core being connected to a rod 3 upon which is loosely mounted a bridge bar 4:, the latter being engaged on opposite sides by 'coilsp rings 5,

' including a magnet is disposed toattract its armature l6 pivoted at 17, one end of which is adapted to contact witha spring element 18 and theflother end with a contact 19. A wire 20 connects spring 18 with a signal, here shown as a bell B, the latter being also connected by a wire 21, including a resistance 22, with a wire 23, which latter is connected to the solenoid winding. The negative pole 24c of the source of electrical 5 energy (not shown) is tapped onto wire 23.

Wire 23, includes a resistance 25 and the Specification of Letters Patent.

parts in inopera- Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 42,015.

magnet winding 15 is tapped into Wire 23 as depicted, the wire 23 being finally connected to contact 14.

A wire 26 connects each of the contacts 13 and 14' and in turn is connected by a wire 27 to the magnet winding. A wire 28 leads from contact 13 to the positive feed wire 29, the latter connecting the trolley wire (not shown) to contact 19. Wire 27 leads through the armature 16 as depicted. The wire 30 which is connected to the solenoid winding extends to a rail contactor.

The operation is as follows: The car (not shown) is provided with a Wiper or contactor connected with the positive trolley wire, .to which latter the wire 29 is connected, so that when this contactor wipes the rail contact circuit will be made through rail contact wire 30, solenoid l and negative terminal 24. The solenoid being thus energized, will attract the core 2 and draw same downwardly, causing the bridge A to contact with contacts 13 and 13 and closing the circuit through the latter, and at the same time the weight'12 will be lifted by means of the chain and sprockets. The bridge 4: having closed the circuit through 13 and 13 the current will flow as indicated in solid arrows from the positive feed wire across the bridge, thence through the relay attracting the armature or contact maker 16 and establishing a new circuit, will flow downwardly through the resistance 25, and

thence to the negative feed wire 24. The

car having passed the contactor the clock movement, through the escapement, will permit the weight to slowly descend, thereby lifting the bridge as well as the core in slow and uniform manner. The circuit through the bridge having been broken by lifting of the bridge the current will flow from the positive feed wire through the armature to the pivot of the latter where it will split, part passing through the tail of the armature, spring 18, through-the alarm, through the resistance 22 to the negative pole while the otherv part will pass through the relay downwardly to the resistance 25 and'thence to the negative pole. I The alarm being thus sounded or otherwise if a signal other than a bell is used, will continue until the bridge has established the circuit shown in Fig. 2, when the current will flow from the positive main through the armature to the pivot 17 and owing to the resistance in the relay and the resistance 22 will pass from 17 up- Wardly crossing the bridge, thence outwardly through the resistance 25 and finally to the negative wire, and as no current flows through the relay the armature, by reason of the spring 18, will be disengaged from contact 19 and the circuit broken, thus efiectingstoppage of the alarm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, a normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable upon energization to close the circuit, said relay having its armature pivoted between its ends, a spring adapted to be placed under tension by one end of the armature engaging therewith when the armature is attracted by its magnet whereby when the relay is shortcircuitedthe spring will act as a restoring means for the armature, means for energizing the relay to close the circuit, and other means for short-circuiting the magnet of the relay to permit the spring performing its function.

2. In a device of the character described, a relay, a main circuit including the relay armature and having spaced branch circuits, one branch circuit including a signal and the other branch circuit including the relay magnet, a relay short-circuit, a relay initially-energizing circuit, and means for successively closing the last two circuits including a timing mechanism.

, 3. In a deviceof the character described, a relay, a main circuit including the relay armature and having spaced branch circuits, one branch circuit including a signal and the other branch circuit including the relay magnet, a relay short-circuit having spaced contacts, a relay circuit for initially energizing the relay and having spaced contacts, and a sin le means movable between the contacts of the last two circuits to successively close the latter.

4:. Ina device of the type set forth, a normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable upon energization to close the circuit, a normally opened branch circuit adapted to initially energize the relay, a short circuit wire normally opened and adapted when closed to short circuit the relay, and a single mechanism operable to successively electrically close the branch circuit and the short circuit wire.

5. In a device of the type set forth, a normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable upon energization to close the circuit, a normally opened branch circuit adapted to initially energize the relay, a short circuit wire normally opened and adapted when closed to short circuit the relay, means operable to close successively and electrically the branch circuit and short circuit wire, and a timing mechanism operable to control the movement of said first means to close the short circuit wire.

6. In a device of the typeset forth, a. normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable upon energization to close the circuit, a normally opened branch circuit adapted to initially energize the relay, a short circuit wire normally opened and adapted when closed to short circuit the relay, means operable to close successively and electrically the branch circuit and short circuit wire,electro-magnetic means arranged to move said first means for closing the branch circuit, and means for actuating the first means to close the short circuit wire.

7. In a device of the type set forth, a normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable upon energization to close the circuit, a normally opened branch circuit adapted to initially energize the relay, a short circuit wire normally opened and adapted when closed to short circuit the relay, means operable to close successively and electrically the branch circuit and short circuit wire, electro-magnetic means arranged to move said first means for closing the branch circuit, and a time mechanism operable to move the first means to close the short circuit wire.

8. In'a device of the type set forth, a normally opened signal circuit including a deenergized relay operable uponenergization to close the circuit, a normally opened branch circuit adapted to initially energize the relay, a short circuit wire normally opened and adapted when closed to short circuit the relay, means operable to close successively and electrically the branch circuit and short circuit wire, electro-magnetic means arranged to move said first means for closing the branch circuit, and a motor operable upon release of the electro-magnetic means to move the first means for closing the short circuit wire.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BEECHER D. WHITCOMB. Witnesses 2 ADA E. HAGE'RTY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

